The awkwardness is real: you are not leaving the company, so a grand farewell feels wrong — but saying nothing feels worse. The fix is to write three short messages instead of one long one.
Short answer: colleagues get warmth and a handover line; clients get the handover first and the reason last; the team chat gets a thank-you the same day the gift appears. Never leave your work contacts as the only route to reach you.
Three Audiences, Three Letters
- The team chat — warm, short, names the person covering for you.
- Clients and partners — handover first, personal detail in one line.
- Your manager — the practical handover document, sent separately.
Templates
- "Friday is my last day before parental leave. Thank you all — this team made the last four years genuinely good. Anna covers my projects from Monday; everything is written up in the shared folder. I am not disappearing — you have my personal number."
- "From 15 September I will be on parental leave. Your account moves to Irina Sokolova (irina@…, +7 …), who already knows your project. Nothing changes on your side — same terms, same schedule."
- "The stroller arrived and it is perfect — thank you all. Special thanks to Marina, who organised the whole thing."
Frequently Asked Questions
What to write on the last day?
Date, thanks, who covers you, how to reach you.
How to tell clients?
Handover first, reason last.
Organising the Send-Off Collection?
Create a free group so the money and the list stay in one place.
Create Free Group 🚀